Two-Bean Salad with Tarragon Dressing Recipe

Two-Bean Salad with Tarragon Dressing

Serves 8

30 minutes or fewer

Cold salads are some of VT executive chef Ann Gentry's favorite foods to make—and eat—at parties. The secret to this one? A killer dressing with just enough sweetness and tang.

Two-Bean Salad

½ lb. green beans, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces (2 cups)
1 15-oz. can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 6-oz. can artichoke hearts, drained and roughly chopped
½ cup pitted kalamata olives, halved
¼ cup sliced red onion
¼ cup finely chopped Italian parsley

Tarragon Dressing

¼ cup balsamic vinegar
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. maple syrup
1 clove garlic
¼ tsp. salt
⅛ tsp. ground black pepper
¼ cups olive oil
1 Tbs. fresh tarragon

1. To make Two-Bean Salad: Fill large pot with 1 inch water and set steamer basket in pot. Cover, and bring water to a boil. Place green beans in steamer basket. Cover, reduce heat to medium-low and steam 2 to 3 minutes, or until green beans are crisp-tender. Cool.

2. Toss green beans with all remaining salad ingredients in large serving bowl.

3. To make Tarragon Dressing: Blend vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, garlic, salt, and pepper in blender or food processor until smooth. With machine running, gradually add oil and tarragon through feed tube, and blend until smooth. Pour dressing over salad, and toss to coat. Serve at room temperature.

April 2007 p.76